Saturday, March 26, 2011

Get Ready for 'Compost Camp,' Worms Included

Worms aren't just for bait anymore. With a little encouragement, they
can help make your yard the envy of the block.

"Compost Camp" is a special composting how-to workshop that includes
special instruction on how earthworms can be added to compost to make
it even better for fertilizing your landscape. (Compost that has been
helped along by earthworms has even been shown to help in warding off
common garden pests, like the pesky horned tomato worm.) Of course, we
can also show you how to make the compost. It's cheap, and it's easy
to do.

Compost Camp is offered in two sessions on April 16, 2011 at
Friendship Trays Community Garden
at 2401-A Distribution Street in Charlotte; Session A will be held 9
a.m. – 11 a.m.; Session B will be held 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Both
sessions will offer a worm class and a backyard compost class. Each
class is limited to 15 people. The cost for the worm class alone is
$25, the backyard compost class alone is $10, and both are $30.
Deadline for Compost Camp registration is Weds., April 13.

Other how-to composting workshops (without worms) are offered by
Mecklenburg County. The basic Home Composting Workshop is a two-hour
hands-on workshop. Topics include home composting and residential
recycling, soil preparation and management, toxicity reduction,
grasscycling and mulching. This class is suitable for beginners.

Composting classes are limited to 20 people per class, and required
for anyone wishing to participate in the advanced Master Composter
program. Classes are held from 10:00 a.m. to noon (unless otherwise
noted) at a cost of $10 each, at many locations throughout Mecklenburg
County. They are held outdoors, so please dress appropriately. Closed-
toe shoes are required for safety reasons.

Pre-registration is required and may be completed online. The deadline
for registration is the Wednesday before the class. Please select a
workshop and complete the registration form for online registration or
register by phone at 704-336-4304.